Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
05:16
Maintenance of a Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury Device
Published on: April 21, 2023
Traumatic Great Vessel Injuries In Children: A 10-Year Experience Of A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit In A Tertiary
Inês Teixeira1, Marta Grilo2, Maria José Oliveira2
1Serviço de Cirurgia Pediátrica, ULS Gaia Espinho, Portugal.
Summary
Traumatic great vessel injuries are rare but life-threatening in children. Early recognition and treatment are crucial for survival, with no deaths or complications reported in this pediatric case series.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Traumatic great vessel injuries are rare, severe, and life-threatening, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Road traffic crashes are a primary cause of these injuries in Europe.
- Management strategies for pediatric traumatic great vessel injuries are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case series of pediatric patients with traumatic great vessel injuries.
- To review management approaches and clinical outcomes in the literature.
- To highlight the importance of early recognition and treatment in improving survival rates.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of trauma patients under 18 years old admitted to a tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from 2012 to 2021.
- Collection and analysis of demographic and clinical data, including injury severity and treatment outcomes.
- Literature review of approaches and outcomes for similar pediatric cases.
Main Results:
- Four pediatric cases (1.5%) of traumatic great vessel injuries were identified among 260 trauma admissions.
- The majority of patients were male (75%), with a mean age of 15.5 years, primarily due to blunt thoracoabdominal trauma from road traffic crashes.
- All patients underwent emergent surgery, with a mean PICU stay of 24.7 days; no major vessel complications or deaths were observed during a median follow-up of 71 months.
Conclusions:
- Traumatic great vessel injuries in children are rare, severe, and challenging to diagnose, emphasizing the need for prompt identification and intervention.
- Effective management and early treatment are critical for improving survival outcomes in pediatric patients.
- Prevention efforts targeting high-speed accidents and violence among adolescents are essential and require multi-sectoral collaboration.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...
01:20Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) requires a collaborative healthcare approach to restore renal function and prevent complications. Essential management strategies involve monitoring fluid and electrolyte balance, adjusting medications, initiating dialysis when necessary, and providing nutritional support.Fluid and Electrolyte ManagementFluid Monitoring: Regularly monitoring body weight, central venous pressure, and urine output helps detect fluid imbalances early. Patient intake and output are...
01:22Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction
Introduction:Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) describes a swift decrease in kidney function occurring over hours to days, characterized by the kidneys' failure to remove waste products from the bloodstream. This leads to dangerous complications like metabolic acidosis, fluid overload, and electrolyte imbalances, such as hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. AKI is common in both hospital and outpatient settings, often triggered by dehydration, sepsis, or exposure to nephrotoxic...
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Accurate diagnosis and effective prevention are critical in managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which is linked to high mortality rates ranging from 10% to 80%. Timely recognition of at-risk patients and careful monitoring can significantly reduce the likelihood of kidney damage.Diagnostic Assessments:The diagnostic process starts with a comprehensive medical history to identify prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal causes.Prerenal causes, such as dehydration, hypotension, or blood loss, should...
01:14Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction
Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component expands, CSF and venous blood...
01:26Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Aneurysm management involves either conservative medical therapy or surgical intervention, depending on the size and symptoms of the aneurysm. Conservative management is generally reserved for smaller, asymptomatic aneurysms, while larger or symptomatic aneurysms often necessitate surgical repair.Conservative Medical TherapyFor small, asymptomatic aneurysms, particularly abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) less than 5.5 centimeters in diameter, conservative medical therapy is recommended. This...